Ventilatory response to exercise does not evidence electroencephalographical respiratory-related activation of the cortical premotor circuitry in healthy humans L. Jutand, 1,2 L. Tremoureux, 2 A. Pichon, 3 N. Delpech, 1 A. Denjean, 4 M. Raux, 2,5 C. Straus 2,6,† and T. Similowski 7† 1 Universite ´ de Poitiers, Laboratoire des Adaptations Physiologiques aux Activite ´s Physiques, Faculte ´ des Sciences du Sport, UPRES EA 3813, 4 Alle ´e Jean Monnet, 86000, Poitiers, France 2 UPMC Univ Paris 6, ER10 UPMC, 75013, Paris, France 3 Universite ´ Paris 13, UFR SMBH, STAPS, UPRES EA 2363, Laboratoire Re ´ponses Cellulaires et Fonctionnelles a ` l’Hypoxie, 74 rue Marcel Cachin, 93017, Bobigny, France 4 Assistance Publique – Ho ˆpitaux de Paris, Ho ˆpital Robert Debre ´, Service de physiologie, Explorations Fonctionnelles, 75019, Paris, France 5 Assistance Publique – Ho ˆpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Pitie ´-Salpe ˆtrie `re, De ´partement d’Anesthe ´sie-Re ´animation, 75013, Paris, France 6 Assistance Publique – Ho ˆpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Pitie ´-Salpe ˆtrie `re, Service Central d’Explorations Fonctionnelles Respi- ratoires, 75013, Paris, France 7 Assistance Publique – Ho ˆpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Pitie ´-Salpe ˆtrie `re, Service de Pneumologie et Re ´animation, 75013, Paris, France. Received 18 August 2011, revision requested 10 October 2011, revision received 9 February 2012, accepted 12 February 2012 Correspondence: Dr Christian Straus, Service Central d’Explora- tions Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, Groupe Hospitalier Pitie-Salpetri- ere, 47-83 Bd de l’Hopital, 75651 Paris Cedex 13, France. E-mail: christian.straus@psl.aphp.fr † Both last authors. Abstract Aim: The neural structures responsible for the coupling between ventila- tory control and pulmonary gas exchange during exercise have not been fully identified. Suprapontine mechanisms have been hypothesized but not formally evidenced. Because the involvement of a premotor circuitry in the compensation of inspiratory mechanical loads has recently been described, we looked for its implication in exercise-induced hyperpnea. Methods: Electroencephalographical recordings were performed to iden- tify inspiratory premotor potentials (iPPM) in eight physically fit normal men during cycling at 40 and 70% of their maximal oxygen consumption ( _ VO 2max ). Relaxed pedalling (0 W) and voluntary sniff manoeuvres were used as negative and positive controls respectively. Results: Voluntary sniffs were consistently associated with iPPMs. This was also the case with voluntarily augmented breathing at rest (in three subjects tested). During the exercise protocol, no respiratory-related activity was observed whilst performing bouts of relaxed pedalling. Exer- cise-induced hyperpnea was also not associated with iPPMs, except in one subject. Conclusion: We conclude that if there are cortical mechanisms involved in the ventilatory adaptation to exercise in physically fit humans, they are distinct from the premotor mechanisms activated by inspiratory load com- pensation. Keywords cerebral cortex, control of breathing, exercise, humans. © 2012 The Authors Acta Physiologica © 2012 Scandinavian Physiological Society, doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.2012.02427.x 356 Acta Physiol 2012, 205, 356–362